Postcard Codes, Abbreviations & Definitions
See Walt's Postcards
for postcards for sale.
The below listed code definitions are used by: Most Postcard collectors.
It is suggested that you copy/save this list for reference.
NOTE: JUMP to Publisher/Vender listing [jump]
Abbreviations Used for indicating CONDITION
CODE DEFINITION CLARIFICATION
mt/MT Mint Card has no flaws what-so-ever,
same condition as was issued. Usually
never used in any way.
If postally used, MUST be noted-PMKD.
ex/EX Excellent Card may have very slight/faint edge,and
corner wear, no face, or back damage at
all. No Creases, can be postally used.
Canceled on front-allways noted-COF.
No Writing on front-allways noted-WOF.
vg/VG Very Good Card may have noticeable edge wear and corner
damage, face/back have no noticeable
damage. Creases are allways noted. Can be
postally used. Sometimes Canceled on Front.
Could have light writing on front, ususally
around edge, or where appropriate to write.
gd/GD Good Card can have more noticeable edge wear and
corner damage/creases, face/back may have
minor damage. Usually postally used. Can
have writing on front, edges and/or
where appropriate for writiing.
fr/FR Fair Card can have very noticeable edge wear and
corner damage/creases, face/back can have
damage. Creases will be obvious.
pr/PR Poor Card has heavy damage in all respects. Usually
only kept until a better card is found.
Use as a space filler.
NOTE: A (+), or (-) may be used to
distinquish between the above values.
Abbreviations Used Within Descriptions
CODE........WORD..............EXAMPLE
( ) Special info To describe card/view, etc.
(___) Used for Inventory
[ ] Added notes
(?) Question
-a, -b, -c Variations of same number
a/s Artist signed
aab Album adherences on back
aaf Album adherences on front
abm/ABM Album
add Added
ado Add-on Ex: ado-feathers
adv/ADV Advertising
ai Airline issue Ex: (ai)
AI as is (not returnable)
aic Album impressions at corners
airb Airbrush
albm/AM Album marks Ex: lt-albm-cnrs-frt/bk
alm Aluminum
alr Address label removed
amb Album marks on back
amf Album marks on face
aob/AOB Advertising on back
aof/AOF Advertising on front
ap/AP Another Publisher
ASI As IS (Not returnable)
att Attached
av/AV/avg Average
AWOB All writing on back
AWOF All writing on front
BAS Bas-relief
bb Bamboo
b/w,B/W Black and White
bc Bent corner/s
bdr/BDR Border Ex: yl-bdr
bk/BK Back Ex: bk-dmg
bkc/BKC Booklet card
bkgd Background
bkt/BKT Booklet
bl/BL Blue
blk/BLK Black
bp Browning or brownish paper
bra Brass
brc Business reply card
bre Business reply envelope
brn Brown/browning
bt/BT Black title/words
btm Bottom
cap/CAP Capitol Ex: cap-letters
cb Citizen's band(radio)
cc Corner crease
cds Circular date stamp
cew Corner & edge wear
cf/CF Cyanid Finish(bluish tone finish)
chr/chrm Chrome
col Color
cpr Copper
cm Cream
cmc/CMC Comic
cof/COF Cancel on front Ex: lt-COF
cont/CONT Continental - Usually larger cards published after 1940's
cop Copper
cpr/c/cy/c: Copyright Ex: cy-1903, c:1903, cpr-1903
cr Crease Ex: lt-cr-UL-cnr
crc Crushed corner
crn/s Corner Ex: crn-wr
c/mod Chrome or Modern
cto/CTO Cancel to Order
cu Close up
cv Catalog Value
cwr Corner wear and rounding
cy/CY Cyanide Ex: Paper-CY
db Different Back
diff Different
dist/distr Distributor
div Divided back - also D/B
dk Dark Ex: dk-stn-LR-cnr
dmg Damage Ex: bk-dmg-UL
dpo/DPO Discontinued Post Office
dup Duplicate
dv/DV Different view
dwob Description Written on back(Publisher)
ec Exceptional Color
ed/edg Edge Ex: ed-wr
efo/EFO Error/freaks & oddities
egst Envelope glue show through
emb/EMB Embossed
error Error
ew Edges worn
ewb Extraneous writing on back
exag/EXAG Exageration
expo/EXPO Exposition Also "EXPO-pm" Exposition Postmark
fa Fresh appearance
fc Flag Cancel
ffc/FFC First Flight Cover
fgb French Green Back
flat Not embossed
fdr/FDR Folder (Many views)
fo/FO Foldout ( 2-3-4 cards connected)
frme/FRME Frame Ex: wh-frme
frt/FRT Front
ft/FT Faint Ex: ft-ed-wr
gb Green back (French)
gl/GL/GA Glitter added
glu/GLU Glue
gn/GRN Green Ex: grn-frme
gp/GP Government Postal
gp Goverment-issued Postal card
gpo General Postal Ofice (cancels)
gr grey
grt/GRT grey title/words
gt/GT Green title/words
gtg/grt Greeting
hc/HCT Hand colored or tinted
hg Hinged
hi High
hist/HIST Historical
hpo/HPO Highway Post Office
hr Hing Remnants
htl/HTL Hold to light
htb Heavy toning on back
htf Heavy toning on face
hvd Heavy Damage
hvy Heavy Ex: hvy-cr-LR
hz/horz Horizontal
ic Internal crease
incl Included/includes
IOB Information on back
ind/IND Indian
info/inf Information
isb Ink smear(ed) on back
isf Ink smear(ed) on front
ist Inconspicuous small tear
jbo Jumbo
lc Long crease
lcg Low contrast (grayish)
lcn/LCN Location EX: LCN-red
lea Leather
lf Lacks freshness (dingy)
lg/LG Lettering Ex: B/W-LG
lge Large Ex: lge-stn-UR-ed
lh Lightly hinged
lin/l Linen
ll/LL Lower left Ex: tr-LL
lls/LLS Large Letters
logo/LOGO Logo (stamp, or emblem)
lr/LR Lower right Ex: sm-stn-LR-cnr
lt Light Ex: lt-stn-UR
ltb Light toning on back
ltf Light toning on face
ltr/ltrs Letter/s
luc/LUC City unknown
lus/LUS State unknown
lun/LUN Location Unknown
m Monochrome(colors that vary)
m2/3/,etc. Nbr/views on card Ex: m3-UR
max/MAX Maximum
mb Minimum bid
med Medium
mi/MI Miscellaneous Information
mil/MIL Military
min/MIN Minimum
misc/MSC Miscellaneous
ml/ML Moonlight
mnh/MNH Mint never hinged
mo Much oxidation(photos)
mp/MP Misprint
ms/MS Mispelling
monc Monochrome(color)
mono Monotone
mt/MT Margin tear
mv/MV() Multi-view EX: mv(2)
mvc/MVC() Multi-view (card connected in strip)
mw/MW More words EX: --MW
mwob/MWOB More words on back(printed by Publisher) EX: MWOB
mwof/MWOF More words on front(Printed by Publisher)
mxb/MXB Mixed back EX: E H Mitchell's MXB-S4A/S5A
nh Never hinged
nm/NM Near Mint
nn No Number
no/nbr/# Number Ex: nbr-1234, no 12, #12
nonp Nonpostcard
npb No Postcard back
npw/NPCW Nat.Postcard Week
nsp Nonsports
nw/NW No Words
oc Orchid
ofw Off white
og/OG Original gum
omb (former)Owner mark on back
on-/ON- Other number EX: ON-1234
onb On back Ex: adv-onb
onbr/otn Other Number
onf On front Ex: adv-onf
or Orange Ex: or-bkgnd
ov/OV Oval
ovp/OVP Overprint
ow Otherwise
pa Paper
pc/PC Postcard
pf Perfs
ph Pinhole Ex: ph-UL-ed
photo/foto Photograph card Ex:photo-AZO
pib Pertinent information on back
pio/pion Pioneer
pic Picture Ex: pic-rect
pk Pink
pm Postmaster
pmc/PMC Private Mailing Card
pmkd/pm Postmarked Ex: pmkd1911
pn Pioneer era
pnp Photo not a postcard
pb Plate Block
pp/PP Prepaid
pre Pre Ex: pre-1905
prelin/pl Prelinen
pmof/PMOF Postmarked on front
pstb Paper stuck to back(removed from old album)
pstlc Postal card
ptr Printer
pu/PU Postally used
pub/PUB Publisher Ex: pub-COLO
pur Purple
qsl/QSL Ham radio cards
PW Pictorial Wonderland
R/r Replace
ROATW Road of a Thousand Wonders
rci Rounded corners as issued
rect Rectangle
ref Reference
ret/RET Retouched
rd Red
repro/repr Reproductions
rfd Rural Federal (Free) Delivery
rfoa Removed from old album
rlf Relief Ex: high-rlf
rp/RP Real Photo
rpo/RPO Railroad Post Office
rppc/RPPC Real Photo Postcard
rr Rod&Rose (Logo on divided back)
rt/RT Red title
sar stuck album remnants
SAS/sas Same as other numbers
sb/SB Stampbox Ex: sb-DOPS
sc Slogan cancel
scc Small corner crease
sd Stamp damage
seb Serrated edge/s from booklet
sed Serrated edge/s
sep/sepia Sepia
ser/srs/sers Series
sf/SF Space filler
sht Sheet
sl Slight Ex: sl-ed-wr
slt Slanted
s/m Stamp missing or gone
sm Small Ex: sm-smg-bk
smg Smudge Ex: smg-UR
sn/SN Seen do not have
sne Stain near edge
snm Stamped, never mailed
so Slight oxidation (not to a fault)
sob/SOB Signed on back
sof/SOF Signed on front
sr stamp removed
sq Square
ss/SS/S/s Souvenir Sheet
ssb Small scrape on back
ssf Small scrape on front
sr Stamp removed
st Street
ST Sepia Tone(brownish color)
stfo Stamp fell off Ex: stfo-no dmg
stmr Stamp removed Ex: stmr-dmg
stn Stain Ex: stn-LL
sv/SV Side View
tan Tan
tc Transfer clerk
tiny Tiny Ex: tiny-smg-UL
tm/TM Trademark Ex: tm-owl in circle
tn/tt Tinted Ex: tn-gn
to/TO Tearout (from a Booklet)
tr Tear Ex: tr-UR-cnr
trb Tape pieces on back
trf Tape pieces on front
tit Title
trb Tape remnant/s on back
trf Tape remnent/s on front
tv/TV Top view
u Used
ud Unusually detailed
ueb Uneven edge from booklet
ul/UL Upper left Ex: stn-UL-ed
un/unu Unused
und/ub Undivided back
unident/uni Unidentified Ex: pub:uni
unk/UNK Unknown Ex: pub:unk
ur/UR Upper right Ex: tr-UR-cnr
used Used
USA/US United States America
USM Unusual Subject matter
vert/vt/v Vertical
vig/VIG Vignette Ex: vig-wh-frme
vlu Very late usage
vw View (Can have nbr in front)
wbe White border era (c.1920-1935)
wd Wooden
wdob Words on back
wh White Ex: wh-bkgd
w/b White Border
wob/WOB Written on Back(message by user)
wof/WOF Written on Front(message by user)
wp wavy paper(will not lue flat)
wr Wear Ex: ed-wr
www/WWW World Wide Web, also- Wide Wide World(Tuck Cards)
yb Yellowing or yellowish paper
yl/yel Yellow Ex: yl-bdr, yl-pa
( ) A number within indicates lot
"-" Numbered in Consecutive Order
"/" Not numbered in consecutive Order
"?" Question
| Below are some other helpful definitions of terms that may be
of some use to new Postcard collectors.
|
Antique Postcard: Generally any postcard published before WW I.
Arcade Card: Postcard size, but without a postcard back. Usually came
from vending machines
Artist Signed: The artist's signature is reproduced with the artwork
on the postcard.
Chrome Era: The term Chrome originated with Kodak's Kodachrome film.
Chromes were the first color postcards produced from color film and printed
with the photo mechanical process. Union oils of 1939 were the first
chromes.
Chromolithograph: Sometimes called "Chromo" a reproduction process
using finely grained lithographic tones from continuous-tone negatives.
Continental Size: Postcards measuring 4" by 6". Most published after
1940's. Many Foreign cards are were also published prior to 1940's.
Deltiology: The collecting and study of postcards. The words is
derived from "delti" (Little picture) and "logy" theory, science, or study of.
Golden Age The period between the Spanish American War and World War I
when the collecting of postcards was at it's peak.
Linen Era: Were widely printed in the U.S. in the late 1930's
and earlu 1940's when access to quality European printing was restricted by
high tariffs. Linens are typically printed in vivid colors on paper with a
line-textured surface, and they tend to have a shadowless airbrushed
appearance.
Pioneer Postcard: A postcard produced prior to July 1, 1898 of the
Private Mailing Act of May 19, 1898.
Private Mailing Card: A card mailed between 1898 and 1902.
Standard Size: Postcard measuring 3 1/2" by 5 1/2", either
vertical, or horizontal.
Real Photo: A picture postcard made directly on photographic paper
with a postcard back.
Click Here for More Photo Stamp
Box INFO.
SASE: Self addressed, stamped envelope. A query which does not
include remittance, but where a reply is expected, should allways be
accompanied by an SASE.
Abbreviations used for Common Publishers/Venders/Printers/Artists
CODE PUBLISHER
AB Bruce, A., Hoquim, Wash.
AFB A. F. Broad 48 Third St., San Francisco
ALB Albertype
ALC Art Litho Co.
ALMZ Alfred Mainzer
AND Allen News Depot
ALW Art Litho Co. - For Wall Nichols Co., Ltd.
ASH Ashville (linen)
BA Bardol
BAP Bardell Art Ptg.Co., San Francisco, California.
BBL B B London
BO Bardell & On'neill, San Francisco, California.
BRD Bardell Art Ptg. Co. San Francisco
BP Bardell Process, San Francisco, California.
CAG Gerhard, C.A. Corvallis, Oregon
CB Cheney Bros., Healdsburg, California.
CBS Cannons Book Store - Roseburg, Oregon
CCP Pierce, C. C. & Co.
CD Case & Draper
CDC Cann Drug Co., Reno, Nevada
CEN Nailor, C.E.& Co., Port Angeles, Washington
CLA Aydelotte, C.L., Santa Cruz, Cal.
CMB Bruner, C.M., Santa Rosa, Cal.
COF Cawston Ostrich Farm, So. Pasadena, Cal.
COLO Colorpicture
CP California Postcard Co., Los Angeles, California.
CRS Savage, C.R., Salt Lake, Utah
CS California Sales
CTA C.T.American Art
CTAC C.T.ArtColortone
CURT Curteich
CVC Cardinal Vincent Co., San Francisco, U.S.A.
CW Charles Weidner
DET Detoit Publishing(Phostint)
DMI Imlay, D.M., Spokane, Wash.
DP Dexter Press -- chrome
EAB Bardel, E.A. & Co., Norwich, Conn.
EAS Evans Art Store, Bellingham Bay, Wash.
ECK E C Kropp
EHM E H Mitchell
EMP Empire Distributor Co., Vancouver B.C.
EPC/CH E.P. Charlton & Co.
EP1/CH1 Ditto - San Francisco, Cal.
EP2/CH2 Ditto - Portland, Oregon
EP3/CH3 Ditto - Los Angeles, Cal.
EP4/CH4 Ditto - Sacramento, Cal.
EP5/CH5 Ditto - San Diego, Cal.
EP6/CH6 Ditto - Oakland, Cal.
EP7/CH7 Ditto - Fresno, Cal.
EP8/CH8 Ditto - Tacoma, Wash.
EP9/CH9 Ditto - Seattle, Wash.
EP10/CH10 Ditto - Spokane, Wash.
EP12/EP12 Ditto - Stockton, Cal.
ESE E. Schwartzchild, Eugne, Oregon
EVA Evans Art Store, Bellingham Bay, Wash.
FC Fields & Cole Co., Santa Cruz, Cal.
FDS Shaw, F.D., Hotel Spokane, Spokane, Wash.
FMO Ordway, F.M. & Sons, Merced, Cal.
FR Rosenthal, F., Tulare, Cal.
GAG G. A. Gerard, Corvallis, Oregon
GAM Gabriel Moulin, San Francisco, Cal.
GDH Horton, G.T., Snohomish, Wash,
GG Goeggel & Weidner
GLM Minott, G.L., Gardner, Mass.
GM Graham Merriam, The Co., Seattle, Wash.
HD Hawes and Dusterberry, Centerville, Cal.
HJJ Jones, H.J., Albany, Oregon
HOF Hopf Bros, Seattle, Washington.
HSC H S Crocker
HTT H T Tammin
HWS Simkins, H.W., Palo Alto, Cal.
IMP IMPACT (Continental)
JA Johnston - Ayers Co.
JBC Caro, J.B., Juneau, Alaska
JFE Eicherly, J.F., Juneau, Alaska
JMS Schemel, J.M., Gilroy, Cal.
JSP Steiner, Joseph, Port Townsend, Wash.
JSS Svenson, John
KOK Kokusansha, Japan
KTH Keith, David, Wenatchee, Wash.
LEV Levinson, Harry, Visalia, Cal.
LONG Longshaw
LOW Lower California Commercial Co., Inc. Lower California, Mexico
LUST Lusterchrome
MBS Sneded, M.B., Niles, Cal.
MET Metropolitan
MR Mike Roberts (chrome)
MAC Mission Art & Curio Store, Monterey, Cal.
MRDR/MRD M. Reider, Los Angeles, Cal.
MS Smith, Mrs. M., Vallejo, Cal.
MZ Maze, The, Petaluma, Cal.
NHR N.H.Reed
NDC Newlin Drug Co., La Grande, Oregon
NPPC/NPC Newman Postcard Co. (Also see-ONC/OSK)
NPW National Postcard Week
OEG Goetz, O.E., Nome, Alaska
OLD Owl Drug Co., Oakland, Cal.
OLK Owl Drug Co., Lakeport, Cal.
OLS Owl Drug Co., San Francisco, Cal.
OLL Owl Drug Co., Los Angeles, cal.
ONC/ON Oscar Newman
OSK/OS Oscar Newman
OWL Owl Drug Co.
PBS Pioneer Book Store
PET Bob Petley
PIL Stanley A Piltz (linen)
PNC Pacific Novelty
PPC Portland Postcard Co.
POL The Polin Brothers, Post Office News Stand, Goldfield.
RND Rand Bros., Oakland, Cal.
R&D/S&R/ROD Sword & Rose E H Mitchell & other Venders
RHO Rhodes 10 cent Store, Seattle, Wash.
RHW Warfield, R.H. & Co., Prop of California Hotel
SAD Sadlers, Berkeley, Cal.
SBS Sherfey's Book Store, Moscow, Idaho
SH Shaw & Hodgins, Snohomish, Wash.
SIS Inch, S. & Son, Placerville, Cal.
SMS Smith's Book Store, Dawson, Y.T.
SMB Smith Bros., Oakland, Cal.
SOU/SV/SPC Souvenir Publishing Co., San Francisco, Cal.
SSW Smith South Western
SVC Scenic View
TIC Tichnor
TK Thatcher and King, Lewiston, Idaho
TUCK Raphael Tuck & Sons - England
TUT Tuttle Co., The, Rutland, Vermont
UO Union Oils 76
VOR Van Ornum Colorprint Co., Los Angeles
*TM McCroskey, V.T., Colfax, Wash.
WAB Baird, W.A., Newsdealer, Baker City, Oregon
WFK Kelly, W.F.
WIN Winsch, John
WN Wall, Nichols Co., Ltd., Honolulu, Hawaii
WP Watt's Pharmacy, Pullman, Wash.
Back To Walt's Home Page
Visit This POSTER WEBSITE
Do not include in orders from:
Walt's Postcard
| 
| |